they found the doore to the street and that to the inward Court open and the house buried in silence and no bodie to be seene they wondred at it and could not tell what to thinke of it no small feares possessing their mindes severall passions housing themselves in their distracted imaginations Thus troubled they went to their Sonne in Law 's lodging and found him as already hath beene delivered with his eies nailed to his wife whom he held fast by the hand both of them shedding many teares She on no other occasion save seeing her husband shed them and he to see how feignedly his wife did let them fall As soone as her Parents were entred within the chamber Carrizales saluted them and sayd I pray sit you down and let all the rest voyd the roome onely I will that the goveruesse Marialonso stay here they did so And onely these five remaining there without expecting that any body else should speake in a low and soft vocye wiping first his eyes Carrizales spake unto them after this manner I am well assured dearest father and mother that it shall not be needfull to bring any witnesses for to make you beleeve a truth which I shall deliver unto you You may very well remember for it is not possible it should slippe out of your memory with how much love and with how great tendernesse a yeare now since one moneth five dayes and nine houres you delivered up unto me your beloved Daughter to bee my lawfull wife Yee likewise know what a great dowrie I made her which was such and in so liberall a manner that three or foure of the same qualitie as her selfe might therewith have beene married with the opinion of rich Yee may also call to minde the care and diligence I tooke in apparelling her and adorning her with all that shee can desire or imagine or that I could come to know was most fitting and convenient for her In like manner my very good friends yee have seene how carried away by mine owne naturall condition and fearefull of that ill which doubtlesse will bee my death and experienced by reason of my great age in the strange and various accidents of the world I was desirous to keepe this Iewell which I had made choice of and yee gave mee with the greatest charinesse and warinesse as was possible for mee to doe I raised up the walls of this house to a great heigth I tooke away the sight and light from the windowes towards the streete I made double lockes to the doores I made such a Tornell as they have at your Monasteries I banished perpetually therefro all that which had but the shadow or name of man or male-kinde I gave her servants and slaves to attend her person nor did I denie them or her ought that they did aske of mee I made her my equall I communicated with her my most secret thoughts and made her Mistris of all my wealth and meanes All these were such workes being rightly and duely considered as might have fully secured mee of enjoying of that without disturbance which hath cost me so much and that shee should have made it her studie not to have given me any the least occasion of letting any kinde of jealous feare to enter into my thought But because the chasticement cannot bee prevented by humane diligence which the divine will of Heaven is willing to inflict on those who doe not wholy place therein their desires and hopes it is no marvell that I remaine defrauded in mine And that I my selfe have beene the Confectioner of that poyson which now goes shortning and taking away my life But because I perceiue the suspension wherein all of you stand upon these words proceeding from my mouth I will conclude the long preambles of this my discourse with telling you in one word that which is not possible to bee uttered in many thousands I tell you then my noble friends that all that which I have sayd and done ends in this that this woman I found borne into the world for the disturbing of my quiet and losse of my life poynting to his wife in the armes of a lusty young man which is now secretly shut up in the lodging of this pestiferous Governesse Scarce had Carrizales ended these words when as Leonora having her heart suddenly clouded fell into a swound betweene her husbands knees Marialonso lost her colour and look't as pale as ashes and Leonora's Parents had such a knot knit athwart their throats that it would not give them leave to speake one word But Carrizales going on where hee left sayd the revenge which I purpose to take for this foule affront is not nor shall be such as ordinarily in the like cases are wont to bee taken And therefore I will that as I was extreame in that which I did so likewise shall bee the vengeance which I will take by taking it on my selfe as most culpable in this offence For I should and ought to have considered with my selfe that ill could agree and sort together the fifteene yeares of this young Woman with the almost fourescore of mine I was he who like the Silke-worme wrought the house wherein I must dye Nor doe I blame thee ill advised young soule and in saying this he bowed downe his head and kissed the cheeke of Leonora I doe not blame thee I say because the perswasions of subtill old Beldames and the love-trickes of amorous young men easily overcome and triumph over that little wit which thy few yeares afford But because all the world may see and know the worth value of that good will and affection wherewith I ever lov'd thee in this last passage of my life I will shew it in such sort that it may remaine in the world for an example if not of goodnesse yet at least of such simplicitie of heart as was never heretofore heard of or seene And therefore I will that a Scrivener be presently sent for to make a new my last Will and Testament wherein I will double Leonora's Dworie and shall entreat her after my dayes are ended which will bee but a few that shee dispose her will since that shee may then doe it without enforcing to marry with that young man whom the grey haires of this unfortunate old man never offended And so shall shee see that if living I did never goe one jot from that which I thought might give her content now dying I am desirous to doe the like that she may take that felicitie with him whom shee seemeth to love so dearely And to you kinde Father and Mother I will have a great care to leave you so well and so rich that you shall live plentifully during both your lives The rest of my wealth shall goe to godly and pious uses Cause the Scrivener to come presently unto mee for the passion which hath alreadie taken hold of me doth so oppresse and torment my heart that it goes encreasing and will in a very
so principall a person as you have voiced your selfe to be and as I my selfe and all the world knowes Now Sir it remaineth that you resolve upon the time of our going hence And as I conceive the sooner the better for the Iron is to bee wrought whilest it is hot and the heate of choller doth increase courage and an injury whilst it is fresh doth rouze and stirre up revenge Lorenzo rose up from the forme whereon hee sate and with close imbracements claspt Don Iuan in his armes and sayd having so generous a brest as yours is Senor Don Iuan it is needlesse to move it by setting before it any other interest then that of that honour which you shall gaine in this action the which shall be wholly yours in case we come off happily with this businesse And for an addition I offer unto you all whatsoever I have hold or possesse as farre as I am or can bee able And if you like of it I would willingly that wee should take our journey to morrow morning for I shall be able to day to provide all things necessary for it I like very well of it replyed Don Iuan But I pray give me leave Senor Lorenzo that I acquaint therewith a gentleman my companion and friend of whose valour and silence you may be bolder to build upon then on mine Since that you Senior Don Iuan have as you say taken my honour to your charge dispose thereof as you please and speak thereof what you will and to whom you will how much more to your companion and friend who be he what he will bee being of your choyce cannot choose but be good This said they imbraced each other and tooke their leave Signor Lorenzo telling him that he would send one unto him the next morning to call him and that they would take horse without the Citie and goe on their pretended journey in some disguise that there might no notice be taken of them Don Iuan came home and gave an account to Don Antonio and Cornelia of that which had passed with Lorenzo and the agreement made betweene them Lord blesse me said Cornelia great Sir is your courtesie and as great your confidence How and so suddainly have you put your selfe into a businesse so full of inconveniences And how do you know Sir whether my brother will carry you to Ferrara or some other place But whither soever hee shall carry you you may assure your selfe that there goes along with you faithfulnesse it selfe though my selfe I confesse as a wretched and unfortunate woman doe stumble at the motes of the Sunne and am afrayd of every shadow and can you blame mee for being afrayd since that my life or my death dependeth on the Dukes answer And what doe I know whether or no hee will answer so temperately that my brothers choller may containe it selfe within the bounds and limits of his discretion And say it should breake out doe you thinke that he is to deale with a weake enemy And doe not you likewise thinke that all the while that you shall be absent I shall remaine hanging betwixt heaven and hell fearefull and suspensefull expecting the sweete or bitter newes of the successe of this businesse Doe I love so little either the Duke or my brother that I doe not drâ—…ad the disgrace and misfortunes of them both and feele the anguish of them in my very soule You discourse much and feare more Lady Cornelia said Don Iuan. But let me perswade you amongst so many feares to leave some place for hope Put your trust in God in my industrie and good desires I doubt not but you shall see yours fulfilled with aâ—…l felicâ—…tie and happinesse Our going to Ferrara is not to be excused as little my desisting to assist your brother as yet wee doe notknow the Dukes intention as little whether he know that you be missing And all this we must know from his owne mouth no man can better put this question unto him then my selfe And Lady Cornelia I would have you to know that the welfare and content of your brother the Duke I have placed in the apples of mine eyes and will be as carefull of them as I am of these Heaven prosper you Senior Don Iuan replyed Cornelia and give you the power to bring this businesse to a good issue and me a thankfull acknowledgment for the good comfort I receive from you In the midst of these my troubles thanks to your goodnes I hold my selfe very fortunate Now however feare may afflict me in your absence or hope hold me in suspence me thinkes I would faine see you gone and as faine see you quickly returne Don Antonio approved the determination of Don Iuan and commended the good correspondence which Lorenzo Bentivogli's confidence had found in him Moreover hee told him that hee would goe to accompanie them in regard of that which might happen not knowing whether things would bee fairey carried and so for feare of the worst would be ready if occasion served to see how the game went and to prevent all foule play O by no meanes said Don Iuan as well because it is not meete that the Lady Cornelia should be left alone as also that Signor Lorenzo may not thinke that I would as if I wanted true valour underprop mine owne weakenesse with the strength of others What concernes you concernes mee answered Don Antonio and therefore though unknowne and keeping aloofe off I meane to follow you and I presume my Lady Cornelia will bee well pleased therewith Neither will shee remaine so all alone that shee shall want one to serve attend and keepe her company Whereunto Cornelia answered it will be a great comfort to me gentlemen that yee goe both together or at least in such sort that if need should require you may ayde and helpe each other and since that to my seeming you goe upon a peâ—…ce of service which may be subject to much perill and danger doe me the favour Gentlemen to carry these reliques along with you and shee had no sooner said so but shee tooke â—…rom out her bosome a Crosse of Diamonds of inestimable valew and an Agnus Dei They looked both of them on these rich Iewells and did â—…alew them in more then they had the hatband But they returned them backe againe unto her saying That they did carrie reliques with them though not so well set forth and richly adorned yet at least as good in their qualitie Cornelia wâ—…s very sorry that they would not accept of them but in fine shee must doe as they would have her The woman tooke great care and paines in tending and cheering up Cornelia and knowing the departure of her masters for they had acquainted her therewith but not what they went about nor whither they went she tooke it to her charge to looke well unto the Lady whose name as yet shee did not know so that they might not at their returne have any
thee gone and sport thy selfe amongst thy Mothers mayds and there have a care of kembing and curling thy lockes and keeping thy hands cleane and white thou art fitter to handle soft silks then a hard hilted sword All these words could not move Cornelio to rise from the place where I found him but sate him still looking upon mee as one agast not once offering to stirre But the voice wherewith I uttered these words which you have heard occasioned the people which were walking in the garden to draw nearer stood a little while listening hearing many other disgracefull speeches which I gave him and thereupon made in who taking courage by their comming for all or most of them were his kinsfolke servants or friends hee made show of rising but before he was fully upon his feete I layd hand on my sword drew it and did set not onely upon him but on as many as were there Leonisa no sooner saw my glittering sword but shee fell into a deadly swound which did put greater courage into mee and stirre up greater despighte and I cannot say whether those so many which did set upon mee sought onely to defend themselves as we see men usually doe against a furious mad man or whether it were my good fortune and diligence or Heavens disposing to expose me to greater evills and to reserve mee to farther miseries In conclusion I wounded seven or eight of them which came next to my hand Cornelio betooke himselfe to his heeles and by his swift flight escaped my hands Being in this so manifest a danger hemmed in by my enemies who now seeing their bloud runne from them and inraged with the wrong which they had received sought to revenge themselves upon mee Loe Fortune provided a remedie for this mischiefe but such a one as was worse than the disease for better had it beene for mee there to have left my life then in restoring it mee by so strange and unexpected a meanes to come to lose it every houre a thousand and a thousand times over and over And this it was That on the sodaine there rushed into the garden a great number of Turkes Pirates of Viserta who with two Gallies had put into a little Creeke of the Sea betweene two rockes hard by the shoare where they disimbarked themselves without being heard or seene by the Centinells of the Watch-Towers nor discovered by those scouts whose dayly office it was to scoure the Coasts and see that all was cleare When my adversaries had espied them leaving me alone they with the rest in the garden ranne their way as fast as their legs would carry them and shifted so well for themselves that they had got themselves out of their danger and put themselves in safetie So that of all the whole companies the Turkes tooke no more Captives but three persons besides Leonisa who lay there still in a swound They tooke me after they had shrewdly wounded me in foure severall places revenged before by me on foure Turkes whom I left dead in the place This assault ended the Turks with their accustomed diligence and not being very well pleased with the successe made haste to embarke themselves and presently put farther to sea so that what with their sailes and help of their Oares in a short space they recovered Fabiana where they mustered their men and finding that the slaine were foure souldiers Levant-men as they call them being of the best and choisest and of most esteem amongst them they were the more willing and desirous to take their revenge of me And therefore the Admirall of the Captaine-galley commanded them to hang me up on the mayn yard All this while Leonisa stood looking on this speedy preparatiō for my death who was now come again to her selfe and seeing me in the power of these Pirats the teares trickled down in great abundance from her beauteous eyes and wringing her soft and delicate hands not speaking so much as one word gave diligent eare and was very attentive to hear if she could understand what the Turkes said But one of the Christian-slaves that was chained to the Oare spake to her in Italian giving her to understand how that the Captaine had given order to have that Christian hanged up pointing unto me because I had slaine in her defence foure of the best souldiers belonging to his Galleys Which being heard and understood by Leonisa being the first time that ever shee shew'd her selfe pittifull towards me she will'd the sayd slave that he should speake unto the Turkes to spare his life and not to hang him for in so doing they would lose a great ransome and that he should advise them to tack about and make againe for Trapana where his ransome would presently be brought aboord unto them This I say was the first and the last kindnesse which Leonisa used towards mee and all this for my greater ill The Turks hearing what their Captive told them did easily beleeve him and this their hope of profit turned the course of their choller The very next morning hanging out a flag of peace they anchored before Trapana That night thou maist better conceive then I utter with what a deale of griefe I past it over not so much for my wounds sake though they were very sore and painfull as to thinke on the perill wherein my cruell enemie was amongst these Barbarous people Being come now as I told thee to the Citie one of the Galleys entred the Haven the other stood off All the Citizens flocked to the sea-side the Christians standing as thicke one by another as the shoare would give them leave And that Carpet-knight Cornelio stood afar off observing what passed in the Galley whil'st my Steward was treating of my ransome to whom I had given order that he should in no wise treate of my liberty but of that of Leonisa and that he should give for the freeing of her all whatsoever I was worth either in lands or goods And I willed him moreover that hee should goe a shoare and tell Leonisa's Parents that they should leave it to him to treate of their Daughters liberty This being done the chiefe Captain who was a Grecian but a Renegado his name Ysuph demanded for Leonisa 6000 Crownes and for my selfe foure thousand and that hee would not sell the one without the other setting this so great a prise as I was given afterwards to understand because he was enamoured of Leonisa and was therefore unwilling she should be redeemed purposing to give to the Captaine of the other Galley with whom he was to share the one halfe of the prize my selfe at the rate of 4000 Crownes in ready money and 1000 more in other cōmodities which made up 5000 prizing Leonisa at other 5000. And this was the reason why he rated us two in ten thousand Crownes Leonisa's Parents offered him nothing on their part relying on the promise which on my part my Steward had made them neither did Cornelio so much as
once open his lips to offer any thing towards her ransome And so after many demaunds and answers my Steward concluded the businesse with giving for Leonisa 5000 and for mee 3000 Crownes Ysuph accepted this offer forced thereunto by the perswasions of his companion and all the rest of their Souldiers But because my Steward had not so much money in Cash hee entreated onely three daies time to make up the full summe with intention to sell my goods under hand and at a cheape rate till he had got so much together as would pay the ransome Ysuph was glad of this thinking with himselfe in the mean while to finde some occasion that the bargaine might not goe forward and so returning backe againe to the Island of Fabiana he sayd that by that time the three dayes were expired he would not faile to be there with them to receive the money according to the agreement But spitefull and ungratefull Fortune not yet wearied out with ill entreating mee had so ordained it that a Gallies boy who sate on the top of the mast as the Turkes Centinell discovered afarre off at Sea sixe Italian Gallies and did guesse which was true that they were either of Malta or Sicily Hee came running downe with all the haste hee could to give them newes thereof and in a trice the Turkes embarked themselves who were a shoare some dressing their dinner some washing their linnen and weighing anchor in an instant hoysing saile and working hard with their Oares turning their Prows towards Barbary in lesse then two houres they lost the sight of those Gallies and so being shadowed with the Island and covered from kenne by the approaching night they were secured from that feare which afrighted them Now I leave it to thy good consideration my friend Mahamut how much my minde was troubled in this voyage finding it to fall out so crosse and contrary to that which I expected and much more when the next day the two Gallies reaching the Island of Paâ—…tanalea on the South part the Turks went a shoare to get them wood and fresh victuals but most of all when I saw both the Captaines land and fell to sharing between them in equall proportion all those prizes they had taken each action of these was to mee a delayed death Comming then at last to the dividing of my selfe and Leonisa Ysuph gave to Fetala for so was that Captaine of the other Galley called sixe Christians foure for the Oare and two very beautifull boyes both naturalls of Corso and my selfe likewise with them that hee might have Leonisa for himselfe Wherewith Fetala rested very well contented And albeit I were present at all this I could not understand what they sayd though I knew what they did neither had I known then the manner of their sharings if Fetala had not come unto mee and told mee in Italian Christian thou art now mine and put into my hands as my Captive thou being rated at two thousand Crownes if thou wilt have thy libertie thou must give mee 4000 or resolve here to end thy daies I then demanded of him whether the Christian Damosell were his too he told mee no but that Ysuph kept her fob himselfe with intention to make her turne Moore and then marrie her And therein he sayd true for one of the Galley slaves told mee that sate chained on his bancke at his Oare and understood very well the Turkish language that hee over-heard Ysuph and Fetala treating therof Whereupon I came to my master and told him Sir if you will bringâ—… the businesse so about that the Christian Damosell may become your Captive I will give you ten thousand Crownes in good gold for her ransome He replied it was not possible but I will acquaint Ysuph with this great summe which thou offerest for her freedome and perhaps weighâ—…ing the profit he shall reape thereby hee will alter hiopurpose and accept of the ransome Hee did so and then presently commanded all those of his own Galley to embarke themselves as soone as possibly they could because he would goe for Tripoli in Barborie whence he was And Ysuph likewise determined to goe for Viserta and so embarked with the selfe same haste as they use to doe when they kenne either Galleys which they feare or Vessels which they minde to robbe And that which moved them to make the more haste was that they saw the weather began to change with manifest signes of a storme Leonisa was on land but not there where I might see her save onely at the time of her embarking where â—…ee both met at the sea-side This her new lover led her by â—…e hand and setting her foot upon the planke which reached from the land to the Galley she turned backe her eyes â—…o looke upon mee and mine which never were off from â—…er looked wishly on her but with such tendernesse that without knowing how such a cloud was cast before them that it took away my eye-sight and being robbâ—…d of it and of my senses I fell in a swound to the ground The like they afterwards told mee befell Leonisa for they saw her fall from the planke into the Sea and that Ysuph leapt in after her and brought her out thence in his armes This was told mee by those of my masters Galley whereinto they had put me I not knowing how I came there But when I came againe to my selfe and saw my selfe alone in that Galley and the other steering a contrary course and gone cleane out of sight from us carryings away with them the one halfe of my soule or to say 〈◊〉 all of it my heart was clouded anew and I begun anâ—… to curse my misfortune and called out aloud for death And such and so great was the moane and lamentation I made that my masters eares being offended there 〈◊〉 threatned with a great cudgell that if I did not hold my peace he would severely punish me Whereupon I â—…sed my teares and smothered my figâ—…es thinking 〈◊〉 violent restraining of them would breake out the more forceably in some one part or other and open a doore to let my soule out which I so earnestly desired might relinquish this my miserable body But froward Fortune not contenting her selfe to have put mee into this so narrow a streight tooke a course to overthrow all by taking from me all hope of remedie for in an instant the storme wee so much feared overtooke us and the Wind which blew strongly from the South blew full in the teeth of us and began with such furie to re-inforce it selfe that wee were forced to tacke about putting the Prow in the Poopes pâ—…ce suffering our Galley to goe which way the winde â—…ould carry her Our â—…aptaines designe was by fetching of boords to have puâ—… into some part of the Island for shelter and more particularly on the North part thereof but it fell not out answerably to his expectation but rather quite contrary to what hee had designed for
the winde charged us with such impetuousnesse that all that which we had sayled in two dayes within little more then foureteene houres we saw our selves within two Leagues or thereabout of the same Island from whence hee had put forth And now there was no remedy for hindring our being driven upon it and not to runne our selves upon some sandy-shoare but amongst very high Rocks which presented themselves to our view threatning inevitable death to our lives Wee saw on the t'one side of us that other our fellow Galley wherein was Leonisa and all their Turkes and Captive-rowers labouring hard with their oares to keep themselves off as well as they could from running upon the Rockes The like did wee in ours but with better successe it should seeme and greater force and strength then the other who being tyred out with their travaile and overcome by the stiffenesse of the winde and blustering storme forsaking their Oares and with them abandoning themselves they suffered themselves wee looking upon them to fall amongst the Rockes against which the Galley dashing it selfe was split in a thousand peeces Night was then drawing on and so great was the cry of those that gave themselves for lost and the fright of those who in our Vessell feared to bee lost that not any one of those many things which our Captaine commanded was either understood or done by them onely they did attend the not forgoing of their Oares plying them still holding it for their best remedie to turne the Prow to the Winde and to cast two Anchors into the Sea to keep off death for a while which they held to bee certaine And although the feare of dying was generall in all of them yet in mee was it quite contrary for fed with the deceitfull hope of seeing her in that other World who was so lately departed out of this every minute that the Galley deferred its drowning or splitting against the Rockes was to mee an age of a more painefull death The high swollen waves which past over the toppe of our weather beaten Vessell and my head made mee very watchfull to see whether or no I could espie floating upon those crump shouldered billowes the bodie of unfortunate Leonisa But I will not detaine my selfe now O Mabamut in recounting unto thee peece by peece the passions the feares the anguishes the thoughts which in that tedious and terrible night I had and passed that I may not goe against that which before I propounded and promised in relating briefly unto thee my misfortune Suffice it that they were such and so great that if death had come to me at that time hee needed not to have taken any great paines in taking away my life Day appeared but with appearance of a farre greater storme then the former and wee found that our Vessell lay riding out at Sea and a good waies off from the Rocks And having descried a point of the Island and perceiving that wee might easily double it both Turkes and Christians began to bee of good cheare taking new hopes and new hearts unto them fell anew to their worke in sixe houres we doubled the point and found the Sea more calme and quiet insomuch that with a great deale more ease they could handle and use their Oares and comming under Lee of the Island the Turkes leapt out to land and went to see if there were any reliques remaining of the Galley which the night before fell on the Rockes But even then too would not Fortune bee so favourable unto mee as to give me that poore comfort which I hoped to have had of seeing Leonisa's bodie in these my armes which though dead and broken I would have beene glad to have seene it for to breake that impossibilitie which my starre had put upon mee of linking my selfe therewith as my desires well deserved And therefore entreated one of the Renegadoes to dis-embarke himselfe to goe in search thereof and to see if the rolling of the Sea had cast her on the shoare But as I told thee all this did Heaven deny me and just in that very instant the Winde began to rise and the Sea grow rough so that the shelter of that Island was not of any benefit at all unto us Fetala seeing this would not strive against Fortune who had so violently persecuted him and therefore commanded them to right and fit the Galley to beare a little sayle to turn the Prow to the Sea-ward and the Poope to the Wind-ward and he himselfe taking charge of the Rudder sate at the helme suffering her to runne through the wide Sea being well assured that no impediment would crosse its course The Oares bare themselves very eeven being seated very orderly on their bankes and all the rest of the company got them into the Hold underneath the Hatches so that there was not a man to bee seene on the Deck save the Master who for his more safety caused himselfe to be bound fast to his seate giving thence direction to the Rowers for the better governing and guiding of the Vessell which made its way with that swiftnesse that in three dayes and three nights passing in sight of Trapana of Melazo and Palermo she imboked by the Pharos of Mecina to the wonderfull feare of those that were in her and of those likewise which behold them on the land In fine not to bee tedious in recounting unto thee the terriblenesse of this tempest which is beyond all expression I say that being weary hungry and tyred out with such a large compasse about as was the rounding of almost all the whole Island of Sicily wee arrived at Tripoli in Barbarie where my master before that he had reckoned with his Levant-men shared out the spoiles and given that unto them which was their due and a fifth to the King as the custome is fell sicke of a Pluresie accompanied with a burning Fever in that violent manner that within three dayes it sent him packing to hell The King of Tripoli seazed presently upon all his goods and the Alacade de los muertos which is an Office of Inquirie concerning the dead substituted by the great Turke who as you know is heire to those that are his naturall Subjects after their deaths These two possessed themselves of all my Master Fetala's wealth and I fell into the hands of him who was the Viceroy of Tripoli and within fifteen daies after he received his Patent for Cyprus with whom you see I am come hither but without any intention at all to ransome my selfe though he hath often told me that I should if I would and wondred why I did not do it all this while being as Fetala's Souldiers told him a principall person and a man of good meanes in his owne Countrey But I was so far from entertaining that motion that I told him that they had mis informed him of my fortunes And if thou wilt Mabamut that I acquaint thee truely with what I thinke Know thou then that
with his eyes went following this his Star till it was wholy taken out of his sight and covered as it were with a cloud from him by the walls of Nicosia Having lost her hee goes to looke out the Iew findes him and comming civilly unto him askt him where he had bought this Captive Christian and how and in what manner shee came into his hand The Iew made him answer that hee lighted on her in the Island of Pantanalea and that he bought her of certaine Turkes whose Galley had suffered wrack being split there against the Rocks And being willing to have gone on in the prosecution of what hee had begun it received interruption and was wholy broken off by one that came from the Bashaw's telling the Iew that he must come away presently unto them who had purposely sent for him that they might demand that of him which Ricardo was so desirous to know and thereupon he abruptly tooke his leave In the way which was betweene the Tents and the Towne Mahamut tooke occasion to aske Leonisa speaking unto her in Italian whence shee was and of what place Who made him answer that shee was of the Citie of Trapana Then Mahamut demanded againe of her whether she did know in that Citie a rich and noble Gentleman called Ricardo At her hearing him named Leonisa fetcht a deepe sighe saying Too too well to my hurt How to your hurt replied Mahamut Because hee knew me sayd Leonisa to his owne and my unhappinesse But I pray tell mee quoth Mahamut Did you know likewise in the sayd Citie another Gentleman of a gentile disposition the Sonne of very rich Parents and himselfe in his owne person very valiant very liberal and very discreâ—…t called Cornelio I likewise know him sayd Leonisa and I may say much more to my hurt than Ricardo But I pray Sir who are you who know these two and aske mee of them I am sayd Mahamut of Paâ—…ermo and by various accidents in this disguise and different habite from that which I was wont to weare I know them passing well for it is not many dayes since that they were both in my power For certaine Moores of Tripoli in Barbarie had taken Cornelio Captive and sold him to a Turke who brought him to this Island whether he came with Merchandize for hee is a Merchant of Rhodes who had trusted Cornelio with all his goods And hee will keepe them well sayd Leonisa because he knows so well to keepe his own But tell mee Sir how or with whom Ricardo came to this Island Marry hee came answered Mahamus with a Pyrate who tooke him prisoner in a Garden neare the sea-shoare of Trapana and that together with him hee had Captivated a Damosell but I could never get him to tell me her name He abode here some few daies with his Master who was to goe to visit Mahomets Sepulchre which is in the Citie of Almedina But just at the time of his departure Ricardo fell so extreame sicke that his Master left him with me for that I was his Countrey-man to the end that I might use all the best meanes for his recoverie and take care and charge of him till his returne and in case that hee did not returne hither that I should send him unto him to Constantinople whereof he would advertise me when he came thither But Heaven had otherwise ordered it since that unfortunate Ricardo without having any accident or simptome of a dangerous sicknesse within a few dayes ended those of his life making often mention of one Leonisa whom as himselfe told me hee loved more then his owne life and was as deare unto him if not dearer then his owne soule Which Leonisa as he at large related unto mee suffered shipwrack at the Island of Pantanlea the Galley wherein shee was being split upon the Rockes and her selfe drowned Whose death hee continually lamented and with much weeping bewayled till that his mourning had brought him to breath his last for I perceived no sicknesse at all in him in his bodie but great shewes of griefe and sorrow in his soule Tell mee Sir replied Leonisa this other young man whom you speake off in those his discourses which hee had with you which for that you were of his owne Countrey could not but be very many did he not at any time speake of Leonisa And did he tell you how shee and Ricardo were made Captives and the whole manner of it Speake of her sayd Mahamut yes a thousand and a thousand times and asked mee many a time and oft whether any Christian of this name had of late beene brought to this Island and with such and such markes and tokens and how glad hee would bee to heare any tydings of her that he might ransome her And withall I must tell you that hee had told his Master and in telling made him beleeve that shee was not so rich as he tooke her to bee and for that he had enjoyed her he might now make the lesse reckoning of her and that if three or foure hundred Crowns would purchase her freedome he would willingly give so much for her because heretofore he had borne some good will and affection towards her Very little sayd Leonisa must that his affection be which would not goe beyond foure hundred Crownes But Ricardo is more liberall more valiant more generous and ingenious then to make so poore an offer for that which hee prized at so high a valew God pardon the party that was the cause of his death for it was I that am that unhappy woman whom hee bewayled for dead and God knowes if I should not bee glad with all my heart that hee were alive that I might requite his kindnesse and that hee might see how sensible I should be of his misfortune who hath sorâ—…owed so much for mine I Sir as I have already told you am shee who is as little beloved of Cornelio as I was greatly bewayled of Ricardo She who by very many and various chances am come to this miserable estate wherin I now find my self and though it bee so dangerous as you see yet have I alwaies by Heavens gracious assistance kept mine honour entire and untoucht wherewith in this my misery I live contented But now woe is mee neither doe I know where I am nor who is my Master nor whether my contrarious fates will hurrie mee Wherefore I beseech you Sir by that bloud which you have in you of a Christian that you will give mee your best counsaile and advise in these my troubles which for that they have beene many though they have made mee looke about and bee somewhat the more warie and circumspect yet notwithstanding such and so many every moment came upon mee that I knew not well how to prevent and withstand them Whereunto Mahamut answered that he would doe all whatsoever he was able to doe in serving advising and assisting her with his best wit and strength And then did hee advertise
come to Leonisa's eares before that his eyes had seene her And for to see her was very hard and difficult for that the Moores are extreamly jealous and keep covered from all men the faces of their women howbeit they doe not much mislike the shewing of them to Christians which happily may bee because being Captives they doe not reck on them for men but slight them as contemptible creatures Yet one day it so happened that the Lady Halima saw her slave Mario and in seeing him tooke such a good liking of him that hee remained deepely engraven in her heart and strongly fixed in her memory And peradventure taking little contentment in the cold and weake embracements of her aged husband she the more easily gave way to this her evill desire And with the like easinesse shee acquainted Leonisa therewith whom she now dearely loved and made exceeding much of for her sweete behaviour and discreet carriage and likewise shewed her great respect for that shee was to be sent for a raritie to the Grand-Signior She acquainted her how that the Cadi had brought and received into his house a Christian Captive of so gentle an aspect and comely presence that in her eye he was the handsomest man that ever shee saw in her life and that they sayd he was a Chilibi that is to say a Gentleman and Countrey-man to Mahamut their Renegado and that shee knew not how to give him clearely to understand the good will and affection which she bare unto him fearing least that the Christian should slight and neglect her for declaring and manifesting her love unto him at the first sight before she had further and better knowledge of him Leonisa askt her what was the Captives name Hamila told her Mario to whom Leonisa replied if he be a Gentleman and of that place they say he is certainely I should know him but of this name Mario I doe not remember that there is any such in Trapana But if it shall stand with your Ladiships pleasure that I may but see him and talke a while with him I shall be able to informe you both who he is and what may be hoped from him It shall be so sayd Halima and on Friday next when as the Cadi shall bee at the Mezquita performing those Rites and Ceremonies which are then and there required in their devotions and adorations I will take occasion to call him in hither where leaving you two together you may talke alone by your selves and if you thinke fit you may give him some inckling of my desires and well wishings towards him and that you will doe me this friendly office in the best manner your wit and discretion can devise of both which I have had already sufficient tryall and therefore need not to expresse my selfe or presse you any farther in this particular This Halima sayd to Leonisa and within lesse then two houres after the Cadi called Mahamut and Mario unto him and with no lesse effecacie then Halima had discovered her heart to Leonisa did this enam oured old young man discover his to his two slaves craving their councell and advise what course he should take for to keepe the Christian to himselfe and enjoy her and yet cumply with the Grand Signior whose she was telling them withall that hee would rather dye a thousand deaths then deliver her up once to the great Turke With such affection did this Moore expresse his passions that they left a deepe impression and beliefe in the hearts of his two slaves whose thoughts were fully bent to runne a contrary course to that which he imagined He thought one thing and they another in the end it was concluded betweene them that Mario as being a man of her owne Nation and Countrey howbeit he had told him that hee knew her not should take in hand the soliciting her and in declaring his fervent affection And in case that by his faire meanes hee could not prevaile and procure her good will he should then use force she being now in his power and this being done to give out that she was dead and so hee should excuse his sending of her to Constantinople The Cadi rested wonderfull well contented with this devise of his slaves and out of the great joy which he had imagined to himselfe he instantly gave Mahamut his libertie be queathing besides unto him after his death the one halfe of his goods Hee likewise promised Mario if he procured that which hee so earnestly desired not onely his libertie but good store of Crownes wherewith he should returne home to his owne Countrey rich honoured and contented If he were liberall in promising his Captives were prodigall offering to hale downe the Moone from Heaven to doe him service how much more easily to draw Leonisa to the bent of his Bow and to condiscend to his desire so as Mario by his leave might have the conveniencie offered him of speaking with her I will give him free leave of accesse unto her answered the Cadi even as often as hee will himselfe if that will advance the businesse For I will so order it that Halima shall goe hence to the house of her Parents who are Greeke-Christians where shee shall stay some few daies or longer time if need be and she being abroad I will command my Porter that he suffer Mario to enter into the house and to have free ingresse and egresse as oft as he pleaseth And I will tell Leonisa that she may if it please her talke and converse with her Countrey-man Thus did the winde begin to chop about of Ricardo's misfortunes blowing with a gentle gale in his favour his Master not witting which way hee meant to shape his course This appointment being made and concluded on between these three the first that laid this plott was Halima shewing her self a right woman whose nature is facile and whose wit quicke and sodaine for the effecting of that which she hath a minde unto especially if her heart bee eagerly set upon it That very selfe same day the Cadi came to Halima and told her that shee might when she would goe out of the Towne to visit her Father and Mother and make merry with them and the rest of her good friends and to stay there as long as she listed or till hee sent for her But because her heart was over-joyed with those good hopes which Leonisa had given her shee not onely would not go to her Parents house nor yet to that feigned Paradise of Mahomet and therefore told him that at this time she had no great minde to goe thither When she had she would acquaint him therewith but whensoever she went she would carry the Captive Christian along with her O by no meanes replyed the Cadi for it is not fit that this Pledge of the Grand-Signior should bee seene of any besides it would do her more hurt than good to converse with Christians since that you know that when she comes into the power of the
I beseech you that you will briefly tell me how you escaped from the hands of the Pirats and how you came to those of the Iew who so lately sold you The storie of my misfortunes answered Leonisa require more leisure then time will now permit to relate yet notwithstanding I will not leave you wholy unsatisfied Know then that the same very evening we parted Yzuph's Galley was with a stiffe and strong winde driven to the same Isles of Paâ—…tanalea where wee likewise saw your Vessell but ours wee being not able to hinder it ranne remedilesly upon the Rockes My Master then having his destruction before his eyes and that there was little or no hope of safety left with all possible haste emptied two Hogsheads which were full of water then stopped up the bung-holes very close and having bound the one to the other with good strong cords he seated me betweene them that done hee presently stript himselfe and taking another Hogshead spreading his armes over it and binding a rope about his middle causing the same to bee fastned to the Caskes whereon I sate bound with great courage hee rushed into the Sea towing mee after him I had not the heart to rush in after him which one of the Turkes seeing pushed mee forward with all his force and sent mee packing after Yzuph where I lay without any sense nor came againe to my selfe till I found my selfe on Land in the armes of two Turkes who bowing my head and bodie towards the ground held me so a pretty space all that while great store of salt-water which I had swallowed downe comming forth at my mouth At last I opened mine eyes but as one amazed and looking about who should I see but Yzuph lying by me with his braines beaten out against the Rockes when hee had almost recovered the shoare where hee ended his life This I afterwards understood by the Turkes and they likewise told mee that taking hold of the Cord they drew mee on Land without receiving any further harme then what I mentioned before unto you of all the whole companie onely eight persons escaped drowning Eight daies wee abode in the Island the Turkes using mee with as much respect as if I had beene their Sister if not more Wee kept our selves close in a Cave the Turkes fearing that if they should bee espied the Christians which had the command of the Fort which is in the Island would salley forth upon them and take them Captive They sustained themselves with wet bisket which the Sea had cast upon the shoare from out the broken bins of the Galley which they went forth to gather up by night that they might not be discovered Fortune had so ordered it for my great ill that the Fort was without a Captaine who died but a few daies before and in all the Fort there were not above twenty souldiers This we came to know by a youth which was captivated by the Turkes who came downe from thence to gather Cockles by the Sea-side At the eight daies end there arrived on that Coast a Vessell of the Moores which they call Caramucales the Turkes saw it's comming in and that they lay at Anchor a little off the Land and so made towards them making such signes to the Vessell which was not far off that they who were in her knew they were Turkes that called unto them Thereupon they sent out their Cock-boat and they recounted unto them their distresse and they received them into their Barque wherein came an exceeding rich Iew a Merchant and all the lading of the Vessell or the most part of it was his being fraughted with Carpets and Hides and other commodities which they bring from Barbary to the Levant In the said Vessell the Turkes went for Tripoli and in that Voyage they sold me to the Iew for two thousand Duckats an excessive prise if his love towards me had not made him so liberall which the Iew afterwards discovered unto me Leaving the Turkes after all this in Tripoli the Vessell tackt about to performe her Voyage and the Iew in most impudent manner fell to soliciting of mee but I shewed him such a countenance as his filthy desires deserved Seing himselfe then in despaire of obtaining his lustfull ends he resolved to rid himselfe of me upon the first occasion that should offer it selfe unto him And it comming to his knowledge that the two Bashaw's Ali and 〈◊〉 were in this Island where he might sell and vent his Merchandize as well as in Xâ—…o whither he was bound he came hither with intention to sell me to one of the two Bashaw's and for this cause put mee into this dresse and weare wherein you now see me for to affectionate them the more unto me who should buy me I am given to understand that this Cadi hath bought me with purpose to carry me for a Present to the Great-Turke whereof I am not a little afraid Here I came to know thy feigned death and I must now tell thee if thou wilt believe me and believe me thou maist that it grieved me to the very soule and that I did more envie then pittie thee yet not out of any ill will that I bare unto thee though I did not answer thy love according to thy expectation for I shall never be ingratefull and dis-respective where I have found so much love and respect but because thou hadst then made an end of thy lives Tragedie Deare Leonisa answered Ricardo you say not amisse herein if death had not hindered the happines of my comming againe to see you esteeming more this instant of glorie which I enjoy in seeing you then any other happinesse saving that which is eternall which either in life or in death might assure unto me my desire The Cadi now my Master into whose power I am come by no lesse various accidents then yours beares the like â—…ervent affection unto you as Halima doth to me hee hath made choice of mee to bee the interpreter of his thoughts I entertained the motion not for to doe him any pleasure thereby but that I might gaine the commoditie and convenienciâ—… of speaking with you to the end that you may see Leonisa to what hard termes our misfortunes have brought us you to be the meanes of working an impossibilitie for you know my minde touching the motion you made unto mee and me to be likewise set a worke about such a businesse as I least dream't of and for which I would give rather then obtaine it my life which now I esteeme according to it's high worth and valew since that it hath had the happinesse to see you I know not what to say unto thee Ricardo replied Leonisa nor how we shall be able to get out of this intricate laborinth whereinto as thou say est our hard fortune hath brought us onely I know to say thus much that we must be driven in this businesse to use that which is contrary to our condition and hatefull to
it selfe to the Cadi which in his owne opinion was greater then all the rest it running still in his heat that his wife Halima would not let him goe to Constantinople unlesse he would carry her with him But presently they did facilitate that telling him that in stead of the Christian which they were to buy and must dye and be turn'd over-boord instead of Leonisa Halima would serve excellently for that purpose and none better of whom he desired to be freed more then from death With the same facilitie as he entertained this in his thought with the like did Mahamut and Ricardo yeeld thereunto And being firmely resolved thereon that very day the Cadi breakes with Halima about the voyage which hee thought to make to Constantinople to carrie the Christian to the Grand-Signior by whose liberalitie hee hoped hee should hee made the great Cadi of Cayro or of Constantinople Halima told him that shee liked very well of his determination thinking that hee would leave Ricardo at home But when the Cadi had certified her that hee would carrie him along with him and likewise Mahamut shee beganne to change her opinion and to dis-advise him from that which before shee had advised him to doe In fine she concluded that if he did not take her with him she would in no hand give way to his going The Cadi would not crosse her but if she would needes have it so her will should be his thinking then with himselfe that he would quickly shake off that yoake which lay so heavie on his necke All this while Hazâ—… Basham was not carelesse in soliciting the Cadi to deliver up the Slave unto him offering him mountaines of gold having besides given him Ricardo before for nothing whose ransome he prized at two thousand Crownâ—… All these gifts and promises wrought no further good with the Cadi then to make him hasten the more his deparâ—… and so solicited by his desire and by them importunities of Hazâ—… together with those of Halima who likewise build vaiâ—… hopes in the â—…yre Within 〈◊〉 dayes he had fitted and rigged up a 〈◊〉 of fiâ—… 〈◊〉 thankes manning it with voluntary Souldiers lusty young able men partly Moores partly Greeke Christians Therein he embarqued all his wealth and 〈◊〉 left not ought aâ—… home in her house of any moment and entreated her husband that he would give her leave â—…o carry with her her Father and Mother that they might see Constantinople Halima's intention was the same with that of Manamut meaning to deale with him and Ricardo that when they were on their voyage they should make themselves Masters of the Bregantine and goe away with it But she would not open her minde nor declare her selfe unto them till she saw her self embarqued and this too with with a full purpose and resolution to goe to the Christians Countrey and to returne to that Religion which she had first beene of and to bee married to Ricardo being verily perswaded that carrying such store of wealth along with her and turning Christian he would not refuse to take herto wife In this interim Ricardo had speech with Leonisa and declared unto her his whole intention and shee againe acquainted him with Halima's purpose who had imparted the same unto her They injoyned each other secresie and recommending themselves to God they stood expecting the day of their departure Which being come Hazan went forth accompanying them with all his Souldiers to the Sea-side and did not leave them till they had hoysed sayle neither did he take off his eye from the Bregantine till hee had quite lost the sight of it And it seemed that the Ayre and breath of those sighes which the enamoured Moore vented forth did fill and drive forward with greateâ—… force the sayles which wasted away his soule But he as one who a long time liv'd in such torment oppressed by love that hee could take no rest thinking on that which hee was to doe that hee might not dye by the hands of his violent desires omitted not â—…o put that presently in execution which with long deliberation and a resolute determination hee had forecasted And therefore in a Vessell of seventeene bankes which he had made readie in another Port he clapt into her fifty Souldiers all his friends and acquaintance whom he had obliged unto him by many gifts and promises giving them in charge that they should put forth to Sea set upon and take the Cadi's Bregantine and all the wealth that was in her putting to the edge of the sword as many as went in her save Leonisa the Captive for she was the onely spoyle that he look't after prizing her above all the other riches and treasure which were in the Vessell He likewise gave order that they should sincke her so that not any one thing might remaine that might give any the least signe or token of their perdition The covetousnesse of the spoyle added wings to their feet and courage to their hearts howbeit they knew very well that they should find but little resistance in those of the Bregantine in regard that they were disarmed and without any the least suspition that any such unexpected accident should befall them Two dayes had the Bregantins now gone in her intended course which to the Cadi seemed two Ages for the very first day of all he would feigne have put in execution his determination But his Slaves advised him that the businesse must first be so carried that Leonisa should fall sicke to give thereby some colour to her death and that this would require some daies of sicknesse He did not like of that but would have it given out that she died suddainly and so quickely make an end of what they had projected by dispatching his Wife out of hand that he might allay the heare of that fire which by little and little went consuming his bowels But in conclusion he must condiscend to that which the other two thought fit Now in this meane while Halima had declared her intent to Mahamut and Ricardo and they were readie to put it in execution as soone as they had doubled the points of Alexandria or passed by the Castles of Natolia But the Cadi was so hasty with them and so sharpe set that they promised to performe the taske they undertooke upon the first occasion that should offer it selfe unto them And one day at the end of sixe which they had sailed another Voyage and that now it seemed to the Cadi that the feigning of Leonisa's sicknesse was sufficient he did importune his Slaves that they should conclude the next day with Halima and throw her wrapt up in a winding sheet into the sea saying it was the Captive of the Grana-Signior The day afterwards beganne to breake wherein according to the intention of Mahamut and Ricardo was to be the accomplishment of their desires or the end of their dayes when loe they might desery a Vessell which with sayle and oare came chasing them They were afraid
knowne to be a Spaniard Feare you nothing Sir for such succour is now come to you as shall not fayle you till his life faile Bestirre your selfe and set your selfe roundly to them for traytours though they be many are able to doe but little To these words replyed one of the adverse part thou lyest in thy throate for here is no traytour but for the recovering of a mans lost honour it is lawfull to take this or any other advantage whatsoever There passed no more words betweene them because the haste which they made to offend and wound their enemies would not give them leave to talke who were to Don Iuans seeming some six of them They did presse so hard upon his companion that at two home thrusts which they made at him at once full in his brest they layd him flat on the ground Don Iuan thought that they had kild him and with strange nimblenesse and valour hee bestird him and set upon them all whom hee made to give ground by the force of a shower which hee rayned downe upon them of blowes and thrusts But all his diligence had not beene able for to offend them and defend himselfe if good fortune had not offered him her ayde by causing the neighbours thereabouts in that streete to open their windowes and come forth with lights and to call out aloud to the Iustice. Which they of the contrary part perceiving forsooke the street and turning their backs went their way Now by this time hee that was fallen had got up againe for those Stocaâ—…os and thrusts that were made at him lighted on a privy coate which he had that was as hard and impenetrable as if it had beene a rock of Diamonds Don Iuan in this fray had let fall his hat and seeking for it in stead of his owne lighted by chance on another which he clapt on his head without looking whether it were his owne or no. His fellowe that was fallen came unto him and sayd Sir whosoever you be I confesse that I am indebted to you for my life the which with all that my estate besides can reach unto I will spend in your service Let me intreate you to doe me the favour to tell mee who you are and what is your name to the end that I may know to whom I owe so much that I may manifest my thankefulnesse Whereunto replyed Don Iuan I will not Sir seeing my selfe now disinteressed be discourteous with you To cumply therefore with your desire and to fulfill your pleasure I shall onely tell you that I am a gentleman a Spaniard and a student in this Vniversitie if the knowing of my name may any whit import you I shall tell it you But if happily you shall bee pleased in any other thing to make use of my service I would then Sir have you to know that my name is Don Iuan de Gamboa You have done mee a great favour herein replyed hee that was fallen But I Senior Don Iuan de Gamboa will not tell you who I am nor my name because I am willing you should rather know it from another then my selfe and I will take care that both shall bee made knowne unto you Don Iuan had but a little before asked of him whether or no he had not received some hurt because hee saw that they had given him two great stocadas whereunto he answered that the goodnesse of his privy coate next under God had defended him But that yet notwithstanding his enemies had made an end of him if hee had not stuck so close unto him By this time there came towards them a company of people more in number then those they had before to doe withall whereupon Don Iuan sayd if these bee those our enemies stand Sir upon your guard and behave your selfe like your selfe I beleeve replyed the other that they are not enemies but friends which make towards us And it was so indeed For they that came were in all eight persons who compassed him round that was fallen and whispered some few words in his eare but they were so soft and so secret that Don Iuan could not heare them The partie defended turned presently aside from them to Don Iuan and sayd unto him had not these my friends come in unto me I would by no meanes Senior Don Iuan have left you till you had finished this your well begun worke by setting mee in some place of safetie But now with all the indearingnesse that I can I shall intreate you that you will leave me for it much importeth mee that you yeeld to my requeste Having sayd this hee put his hand to his head and found that he was without a hat and turning himselfe to those that came to him he spake unto them to give him a hat for his owne was in fighting falne from him He had scarce spoke the word but that Don Iuan put that which he had found upon his head He that fell felt it with his hand and returning it to Don Iuan sayd unto him this hat is none of mine As you love me Don Iuan take it and carry it away with you as a Trophee of this skirmish and keepe it well for I beleeve it is knowne They gave him another hat and Don Iuan for to comply with that which he had intreated of him interchanging some other but shorte compliments he left him not knowing who he was and came home to his owne house without offering to goe to that doore where they had given him the babe because he perceived that all the whole street was up being awakened out of their sleepe and in a kinde of tumult and uproare by reason of this quarrell It so then happened that in his returning to his lodging he met in the mid way with Don Antonio de Ysunca his Comrade and knowing him Don Antonio sayd returne with me Don Iuan a little up this way and as we walke along I shall recount unto you a strange story which hath befallen mee and I beleeve in all your life you never heard such passages as I shall now acquaint you with Whereunto Don Iuan replyed come let us goe whither you will and tell me this your strange story Don Antonio led the way and sayd You shall understand that little more then an houre after that you were gone out of the house I went forth to seeke you and not 30. paces from this place I saw comming as it were to meete me the black bulke of some person which came in great haste and the party approaching nearer unto me I knew it was a woman clad in a long habit who with a voyce interrupted with sighes and sobs sayd unto me are you Sir a stranger or one of the Citie I replyd a stranger and a Spaniard Are you wounded Lady or doe you beare about you some evill presages of death It may be quoth shee that the evill I bring with me will be my death if I have not speedy remedy By that
courtesie which is alwayes wont to raigne in those of your Nation I beseech you noble Spaniard that you will take mee out of these streets and bring mee to your lodging with the greatest speed you can and there if it please you you shall know the evill I beare about me and who I am though it bee to the cost of my credit Hearing her say so it seeming unto me that she had neede of that which she desired without making any reply I tooke her by the arme and through by lanes brought her to my lodging Santistevan the Page opened mee the doore I willed him to withdraw himselfe and so without his seeing of her I conducted her to my chamber Whereinto shee was no sooner entred but shee threw her selfe on my bed and fell suddainely into a swoune I drew neare unto her and uncovered her face which shee had covered with her mantle and discovered therein the greatest beautie that humane eyes had ever seene shee might be to my seeming about some eighteene yeares of age rather under then over I stood a while amazed at the beholding of such rare and singular beautie But calling my selfe to remembrance I hastned to sprinkle a little water on her face wherewith shee came to her selfe tenderly sighing And the first word that shee spake unto me was Doe you know me Sir No quoth I nor is it fitting that I should have had the happinesse to have knowne so much beauty O unhappy is that beautie sayd shee which heaven bestowes upon some for their greater misfortune But this gentle Sir is no time to commend beautie but to remedy mischiefes I shall therefore intreate you by that worth and noblenesse that is in you that you will leave mee heere shut up and suffer none to see me and that you will presently returne to the same place where you met with me and see if there be any maintaining a quarrell each with other Side I beseech you with neither part nor favour any of those that you finde in this duell but seeke to make peace betweene them for whatsoever hurt shall light on eyther side it will helpe to make mine the gaeater I left her shut up and am going to see if I can end this difference and make them friends Have you any more to say Don Antonio sayd Don Iuan Why doe not you thinke that I have sayd enough replyed Don Antonio since that I have told you that I have under lock and key in my Chamber the greatest beauty which humane eyes ever saw Doubtlesse it is a strange case answered Don Iuan but now I pray hearken what betided me And presently he related unto him all the whole successe of his businesse and how that the babe which they had given him w◅s at home in the house in the custody and keeping of his shee-servant and the oder that he had left with her for the changing of those rich into poore Mantles and to carry him to some Nurse that might breed him up or at least to relieve this its present necessitie by giving it suck and he signified further unto him that the difference which he came to inquire after was ended that all was well and quiet how that he himselfe was in that quarrell and that all those as hee did imagine who were in that bickering were gentlemen of great both qualitie valour They both did blesse themselves and did wonder and admire at each others fortune so made all the haste they could to returne home for to see what the lockt up Lady had neede of In their way homeward Don Antonio tolde Don Iuan that he had promised that gentlewoman that none should see her nor come into that Chamber save onely himselfe since that there was not any one thing wherein he could doe her a greater courtesie ◅ush that 's nothing sayd Don Iuan I will not want some one devise or other for to have a sight of her for already I long extreamely to see her you having given such extraordinary commendation of her beautie Whilst they were thus discoursing on the businesse and by the light which one of those their Pages brought Don Antonio by chance casting his eyes on the hat which Don Iuan wore he saw how it did gli◅er shine with diamonds He took it off frō his head saw that those sparkling lights beamed forth their rayes from their fellowes which were curiously ranked in an exceeding rich hat-band They both of them looked againe and againe upon it and having well viewd it they concluded that if they were all fine and perfect as they appeared to be they could not be lesse worth then twelve or thirteene thousand duckets By this they certainly knew that they in this quarrell were persons of principall note and qualitie especially he that was succoured by Don Iuan who as he well remembred told him that he should take the hat with him and keepe it because it was knowne They commanded their pages to withdraw they did so then Don Antonio opened the doore to his chamber and found the Lady sitting on the bed leaning her cheeke on her hand trilling downe tender teares Don Iuan out of the desire which he had to see her made a shift to put his head halfe way within the doore which he had no sooner done but in that very instant the glittering of the Diamonds shined on those eyes which rayned downe soft showers of teares and lifting them up shee said come in my Lord Duke come in why will you give me with so sparing a hand the riches of your presence Hereunto replyed Don Antonio here Lady is no Duke that neede to excuse himselfe for his not seeing of you How sayd shee no Duke he that did peepe in at the doore even now is the Duke of Ferrara whom the richnesse of his hat cannot conceale from me Truly Lady I can assure you that the hat which you saw no Duke weares it and if you are willing to be put out of your errour give him leave that weares it to come in With all my heart sayd shee let him come in though if he should not prove to be the Duke my sorrowes and misfortunes will be the greater All these words Don Iuan heard and seeing that hee had leave given him to enter with his hat in his hand he came into the Chamber and as soone as he had thus presented himselfe before her shee presently knew that he who had this rich hat was not the person shee tooke him to be And therefore with a troubled voyce but with a quicke and nimble tongue shee sayd unto him O unhappy O miserable that I am Tell me Sir I beseech you and that instantly without holding me any longer in suspence whether or no you doe know the mast◅ and true owner of this hat where you left him and how you came by it is he happily alive Or is this the newes which hee sends mee of his death O my dearest good what